When I went to school, back in the OLDEN days....we didn't start until after Labor Day. When our last day of school was, before summer vacation began, depended on how many, if any, snow days we had during the school year. So, when I see and hear about kids being back in school in the middle or end of August, it just doesn't seem
right, ya know?
I have such fond memories of fall days and evenings....shuffling along in dried, fallen leaves, smelling that one-of-a-kind scent of burning leaves.....BUT, I'm not going to write about that tonight. That will have to wait for another time.....when it's not so blasted hot and humid. I am SO ready for this heat to subside.
However, I DO have something to post in honor of "School Days". This cute collage hangs in our upstairs hallway, next to a guest room and right outside my office door, so I see it often. It holds Mark's school pictures from his first grade photo through his high school senior photo.
When I bought this, complete with the school motif and ruler frame, I think Mark was in the 2nd or 3rd grade. I remember thinking how it would take soooo long to fill in every empty place, waiting for the correct year's photo. Also, I agonized over the price of it! It couldn't have been more than $10.00 or so, but money was so tight at that time. I finally decided I just HAD to have it and I would regret it forever, if I didn't buy it. I still love it to this day. There, in one frame, I can see how my little boy grew up so fast, right before my eyes. How could it have gone by so quickly? I was a stay-at-home mom. I was
there. I didn't miss out on anything. I had the presence of mind to cherish every moment, and not wish he was older......yet, the years
did fly by and now he's almost 23 years old. As I've said before, sometimes I really miss that cuddly little boy, while at the same time I'm so proud of the man he has become.
All you younger moms out there.....cherish your children, because one day, all too soon, you will be thinking or writing these very same words.
Is this the little girl I carried? Is this the little boy at play?
I don't remember growing older. When did they?
When did she get to be a beauty? When did he grow to be so tall?
Wasn't it yesterday when they were small? -- Lyrics to "Sunrise Sunset"
What a lovely tribute, and how true.
ReplyDeleteDonna V.
http://donnasbookpub.blogspot.com
They sure do grow up fast! My babies are 28 and 31!! Sweet post!!
ReplyDeleteNice post and nice collage...you alreayd now I agree 100% with your thoughts on being a mom. Mark really looks like your pictures...I thought Scott did, but Mark resembles you even more!
ReplyDeleteGeez, just saw that spelling! Maybe the heat has finally fried my brain!
ReplyDeleteBecky,
ReplyDeleteWhat a sentimental post and oh so true.
Here in Michigan the schools can't start until after Labor Day, state law. So, we're heading to the cabin and trying to enjoy the last few weeks of school.
ReplyDeleteHere in England, we don't go back to school until early September. But I think that school holidays in America start earlier than ours, so it all works out in the end :)
ReplyDeleteOh, man, Becky. I was okay till I saw "Sunrise, Sunset." Why did it have be "Sunrise, Sunset"? :-)
ReplyDeleteI think I got my reminder of this last year, when my GRANDDAUGHTER started Kindergarten.
ReplyDeleteHow the heck did that happen?
My kids are 34, 31 and 15...so we're not done with school here yet,either.
Hi Becky ... you have been a busy poster this weekend!
ReplyDeleteI love the part where you say you knew you would regret it if you didn't buy it. I go by that same rule. The kids do grow so fast and their school pictures are priceless.
:>)
It's so true, Becky. One minute our little boys are stuffing stones in their pants pockets or building forts in the back yard. The next thing you know, they are getting married and moving far away.
ReplyDeleteI have photos (of my son and daughter when they were littlE) hanging on my bedroom wall. When I look at them, I smile and sometimes tears come to my eyes because they are all grown up now and no longer here.
Yes, young mothers, treasure your little ones, because when their footsteps are silenced and you can no longer hear their laughter, a mother's heart becomes sad.
But our jobs are to raise our children and then, like a piece of dust in the wind, let them go. If they become independent and contribute to society, we have done our jobs well. Susan
I did love raising those little ones, and I love the adults they've become.
ReplyDeleteSunrise, Sunset pretty much says it all. Great song.
=)
Your whole post is so nostalgic. The changes we've seen are almost overwhelming if you think on them too long.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is 24 this year, my grandson 1. I could hold her in one hand when she was born. Now I'm weepy.
Such wise words my sweet little sister!
ReplyDeleteHi Donna, Linda, Bookie, Linda, Janel, Sam, Cathy C., June, Kathy @ Oregon Gifts, Susan, Sue, Nessa and Mollye!! Thank you all SO much for your wonderful comments!! Those of you that are moms, I knew would surely relate to this! Hug yourselves, too, for the fantastic moms you still are today!!
ReplyDeleteAll so true! About our children AND school starting too early! ;)
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about those crisp Fall days, shuffling through the leaves and loving the crunchy sound! I grew up in Michigan and when I moved to Georgia to teach, I was HORRIFIED that I had to start in August! You know, I taught 30 years, have been retired 4 years now and I STILL don't understand why schools have to start so daggum early!
ReplyDeleteHhmmm, wish I would have done that with all my children :-( Guess if I dig up all the pictures, I could still do it - now where did I put all those pictures...
ReplyDeleteWonderful picture... nice to see how quickly they grow. I have a senior this year..... wish I had done something like that.
ReplyDeleteHi Tammy ~ I know you know all too well about both! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Gail ~ Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts! I have family in the Atlanta area. They moved there years ago, but from here in the Midwest, and I'm sure the climate was very strange at first!
Hi Lynn ~ Hey, that's true! Just do that simple task of digging out those pictures!! :D
Hi Denise ~ Thank you so much for stopping and taking the time to comment! Maybe you could still do a frame like that, too, if you have all the old wallet size pictures!!
What a great picture frame, Becky! So nice to see the ages and stages of your son. The growing up years go by way too fast. For some reason I especially miss them this time of year. Thanks for sharing! Looking forward to the post about burning leaves, too. I remember those days and that pungent smell.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't a cliche. They DO grow up so very quickly...in what seems the blink of an eye.
ReplyDeletePat
www.critteralley.blogspot.com
Hi Clara ~ Thanks so much for leaving such a beautiful comment!
ReplyDeleteHi Pat ~ Yes, it's too bad we don't realize when we're young how fast the years will fly by!
That is such a neat frame, Becky. And yes, they do grow up way too fast! Mine are 16 and 20. It hardly seems possible.
ReplyDeleteHi Daisy! I know...how can our children be so old, when we are still....uh...like 25 years old, ourselves??!!
ReplyDeletebehind on reading posts. great post re children and growing older. it's good to have a way to lok back at these times. rose
ReplyDeleteHi Rose! Thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteAwww, thanks for that Becky!! I even remember Mark when he was that age...tears! I too, am so proud of Nick, and I don't want to freeze time, because every day is such a wonderful delight, but I wouldn't mind a "slow motion," button! Ha, right? I love your blog!! Hope the book is coming along...talk to you soon!
ReplyDeleteHey Sara! Thanks so much for stopping and commenting AND becoming my newest follower! I KNEW you would definitely like this particular post! :)
ReplyDelete